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Permitted Paid Engagement

If you are invited as an expert or professional by a UK-based organisation or client for a paid engagement, you may be apply under this route.

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What is a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) visa

The Permitted Paid Engagement visa is a specific sub-category of the Standard Visitor route and it allows applicants to come to the UK to carry out specific engagements and receive payment for it.

You can be invited and paid by a UK-based organisation or client:

as a professional artist, entertainer or musician
as a professional sportsperson
as a qualified lawyer to represent a client
to give a lecture or series of lectures
as an academic to be a student examiner or assessor
as an air pilot examiner

You cannot:

do paid work unrelated to your main overseas job or area of expertise
study
live in the UK for extended periods
claim public funds (benefits)
pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit, you may be able enter the UK as a PPE visitor without holding a pre-approved visitor visa. If you are a 'Visa National', then you must apply for a Visitor Visa before you can travel.

You may want to first check if you need a visa to visit the UK.

General requirements

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You must be able to show that:

you’re 18 or over
you’ve been formally invited by a UK-based organisation to attend a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement
the event or engagement relates directly to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country
you’re visiting the UK for no more than 1 month
you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
you’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration specialist for expert advice.

How long can you stay in the UK

If successful, you will normally be able to stay in the UK for up to 1 month on your visit. There is no option to extend this visa from within the UK.

Applicants should not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits under this route or to make the UK their main home. Applications can be refused if an immigration officer believes that this is the case.

Processing time and application fees

The current application fee is £100. The applications will be usually decided within 3 weeks after you have made your online application and provided all your documents including biometrics.

In some visa application centres, priority services may be available subject to availability and additional fees. For applications using priority service, UKVI would aim to make a decision in 5 working days.

How we can help

Our knowledgeable and experienced immigration team can:

Assess your case and advise whether you are eligible to apply
Provide you with a tailored & comprehensive document list
Review all your documents and advise on necessary amendments
Suggest on how to improve your application
Complete your application forms in accordance with the UKVI requirements
Assist you to complete the application submission process
Provide our representation letter to support your application with necessary legal arguments
Liaise with UKVI on your behalf